Carter Bahns· Aug 7, 2026
A CBS Sports piece names 17 active NFL players as locks to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame once eligible, and also predicts Rob Gronkowski will be inducted as the 11th Hall of Fame tight end when he becomes eligible in 2027.
“Below are the active NFL players who are locks to earn a spot in the Hall of Fame.”
published in writing · CBS Sports · read the original →
11 checkable claims — 11 pro bowl and all-pro calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
It names 16 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Where do you stand? Pick this and every open claim on Picks →
Who this take is about
11 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
Khalil Mack to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Khalil Mack, EDGE, Chargers ... The story of modern defense cannot be told without mentioning Mack.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Travis Kelce to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Gronkowski and Travis Kelce could be the first part of a new wave of legends to be enshrined in the Hall. The latter is a no-doubter”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Lane Johnson to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Lane Johnson, OT, Eagles ... regularly ranks as the league's best active offensive lineman”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
T.J. Watt to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Watt is an all-time great pass rusher, and he might not even be close to done yet.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Myles Garrett to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Myles Garrett, EDGE, Rams ... his legendary 2025 season, of course, went into the record books”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Pro Bowl and All-Pro CallsBobby WagnerAug 7, 2026
Bobby Wagner to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Bobby Wagner, LB, free agent ... one of the league's great modern linebackers”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Pro Bowl and All-Pro CallsVon MillerAug 7, 2026
Von Miller to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Von Miller, EDGE, free agent ... he accomplished so much during his 10-year Broncos tenure”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Aaron Rodgers to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Aaron Rodgers, QB, Steelers ... there are hardly any more accolades for Rodgers to stack up in what he says will be his final year.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Davante Adams to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Davante Adams, WR, Rams ... In his prime, Adams was a three-time first-team All-Pro”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Patrick Mahomes to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs ... Mahomes is as transcendent of a player as there is in the NFL right now”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Pro Bowl and All-Pro CallsRob GronkowskiAug 7, 2026
Rob Gronkowski to make Pro Football Hall of Fame
“Rob Gronkowski will become the 11th when he gains eligibility in 2027”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsHit · 100Rogers made his own Week 2 calls, taking the Packers, Eagles (by at least 10), Panthers (by at least a field goal), Cowboys (by at least six), Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also noted Baltimore was his Super Bowl pick and said it wouldn't shock him if Jacksonville hosted the AFC Championship Game.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Los Angeles RamsClose · 57Simms went through every Week 2 game with predicted final scores, picking the Texans, Bears, Steelers (as an upset), Packers, Ravens, Eagles, Buccaneers, Panthers, Jaguars, Seahawks, Cowboys, 49ers, Chargers, Chiefs and Rams to win. He also reiterated that Denver was his preseason Super Bowl pick while predicting the Broncos would fall to 0-2.
- Chris LongScore Predictions · Philadelphia EaglesClose · 79Previewing Week 2, Long called New England a spot to bounce back against Pittsburgh, projected a 27-14 Patriots win, saw Eagles-Titans as a 23-10 grinder, liked the Rams' spot Monday night against the Giants, and wrote down a Bills 31, Lions 23 final for the Thursday nighter.
- Chris SimmsScore Predictions · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Simms went through the entire Week 3 slate with straight-up winners and predicted final scores, taking Jacksonville, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle, the Giants, Baltimore, New Orleans, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver and Philadelphia. He also expected Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua to sit, Kyler Murray to play, and said Marvin Harrison Jr. projects as no better than a good No. 2 or high-end No. 3 receiver.
- Connor RogersGame Outcome Picks · Kansas City ChiefsHit · 100Rogers picked Detroit, Houston, Carolina, Kansas City, Seattle and the Giants to win their Week 3 games, saying the Chiefs win by two touchdowns and the Giants by a field goal.
- Chris LongGame Outcome Picks · Los Angeles RamsMiss · 0Long liked the Rams over the Broncos on Sunday night even without Puka Nacua, and expected the Bills to beat the winless Chargers in Buffalo. He also backed the Bengals over the Steelers, expected an angry Detroit team to handle the Jets, and still thought both the Lions and Vikings could win the NFC North.
More pro bowl and all-pro calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Pat GustavsonPro Bowl and All-Pro Calls · Charles CrossMiss · 0Gustafson picked the Bears, Eagles, Rams, Patriots, Jaguars and Texans in the wild card round, the Rams and Bears in the NFC, the Broncos and Patriots in the AFC, and the Patriots to beat the Bears in the Super Bowl. His awards slate included Stafford for MVP, Puka for OPOY and Liam Cohen for Coach of the Year.
- Brandon CarneyPro Bowl and All-Pro Calls · Trent WilliamsMiss · 0Carney made a full playoff bracket, picking the Bears, Niners, Rams, Patriots, Jaguars and Texans in the wild card round, then Seahawks and Rams in the NFC divisional, Broncos and Patriots in the AFC, with the Rams beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl. He also gave award picks including Stafford for MVP and Vrabel for Coach of the Year.
- Peter BukowskiPro Bowl and All-Pro Calls · Zach ThomasMiss · 0Bukowski breaks down combine performances and predicts Caleb Banks will be the first defensive tackle drafted, that Kyle Lewis will rise into second-round range, that Lee Hunter's poor testing will keep the Packers away, and that the Packers will not draft a tight end in the top 100. He also predicts the Packers will cut Elton Jenkins and expects Kingsley Enagbare to leave while Rashan Gary returns.
- Jeff "Coach Jags" JagodzinskiPro Bowl and All-Pro Calls · Tucker KraftMiss · 0The former Packers tight ends coach said Tucker Craft is a Pro Bowl-caliber tight end, and separately endorsed Christian Watson as a true No. 1 receiver for Green Bay. He also ranked the tight ends he has coached all-time.
- JP AcostaPro Bowl and All-Pro Calls · Devon WitherspoonMiss · 0JP picked the Eagles to beat the 49ers in a low-scoring game and the Jaguars to beat the Bills, called Bijan Robinson the best running back in the league, and named his own first-team All-Pro roster.
- Rich EisenPro Bowl and All-Pro Calls · Jihaad CampbellMiss · 0Discussing Charles Davis' mock draft, Eisen predicted Jihaad Campbell of Alabama would be an All-Pro next season, and separately expects Trey Lance to be on an NFL roster as a backup quarterback next season.